While chatting with my friend this morning, I mentioned how my oldest daughter has learned to roll with it since she was just a toddler. There were times when a celebration was canceled because of hospitalizations or when we had to decline to go to an event because it was in the middle of the flu season. Tears were shed but ultimately, we had resolved to make the best of the situation and move forward trusting that God’s plans were better than our own. It was never easy, but what I have seen is the development of strength and character at such an accelerated level, it blows my mind. Those times of being flexible helped prepare our daughter for the unexpected of senior year. Without a doubt, it has been disappointing, but she stayed strong in the Lord. When the way was made for us to finally have a graduation, the light of the Lord shone brightly through her as she spoke and sang at the ceremony.

This kind of flexibility was not something I had truly understood until I was an adult. In fact, it was quite a struggle for me as I loved my plans and disliked change. So when my plans didn’t turn out as expected, I fell apart at the seams. I would become filled with anger and pity. I found myself feeling stuck in the way that moment should have happened, that I had a hard time letting it go. Eventually, I realized that wasn’t how God wanted me to live and with His help, I learned to roll with it.

It makes me think about the instances in the Bible when people have had to be flexible:

One minute, Miriam was excited to have a baby brother Moses. The next minute, her mother was instructing her to keep an eye on him in a floating basket and talk to the Egyptian princess.

One minute, orphaned Esther found herself living comfortably with her relative Mordecai. The next minute, he was sending her off to a palace to vie for the position of queen.

These were not their original plans. Yet, they had to decide whether they were going to pout and argue that it was unfair or whether they were going to roll with it and trust God’s plans in the midst of the unexpected.

Because Miriam rolled with it, Moses was saved from death and became the deliverer for the enslaved Israelites.

Because Esther rolled with it, she became queen and was able to use her position to save her people from being annihilated.

As we are in the midst of watching many of our present-day plans change, following are some Scriptures to hold onto:

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12-13 ESV)
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God …” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Rather than allowing changes in plans to set you back, see them as a set up for what God can do through you when you keep your eyes fixed on Him and trust His plans for your life.

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain.”
~Joyce